Interactive entertainment electronic system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a remote play device for an interactive entertainment system and may include a class D amplifier and at least one motion detection device. The remote play device may also include a processor to adapt sound effects played through the class D amplifier based upon the at least one motion detection device. A battery may also be included powering at least the class D amplifier.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interactive entertainment electronicsystem comprising a remote gaming device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it is known in this specific technical field, interactiveentertainment electronic systems are becoming more and more popular. Forexample there already exist examples of interactive television where auser can send back to the transmission network a piece of information inreal time with a TV show, although staying at home.

More particularly, in the field of the play stations most of the playapplications are based on a main play station, for example a personalcomputer or a so called Game Box. A multimedia processor is incorporatedinside this main station for managing, through software, all themultimedia effects.

Then, all the remote cabled elements such as for example: headsets, playdevices, the control handles and other components are connected to themain station as play accessories. The remote elements send simplecontrol signals (of position or of action or of play movement) to themain station for being processed by the multimedia processor of the mainstation.

The known and mature wireless technologies such as Bluetooth or WirelessLocal Area Networks already allow the possibility to deal wirelesslywith the above remote accessories, such as the play device, the remotecontrols, or the wireless headsets, thus offering a user the freedom ofmoving while playing music or playing.

However, so far no interactive entertainment electronic systems havebeen devised that are able to adapt the multimedia effects bothprocessed in the main station and locally in the play device, withreturn signals coming from the user the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A purpose of the present invention is that of addressing the problemassociated with the prior art approaches and providing an interactiveentertainment electronic system to adapt the multimedia effects (sound,video, graphical or mechanical effects such as vibrations) according tothe position or the motion detection of a remote user both in the mainstation and in the play device.

Other purposes may be attained by providing changes of the multimediaeffects according to the user's location in a room or according to hismovement modes.

An embodiment of the invention relates to a remote play device for aninteractive entertainment system, the remote system may include a classD amplifier, and at least one motion detection device. A processor toadapt sound effects played through the class D amplifier based upon theat least one motion detection device may be included. A battery forpowering at least the class D amplifier may also be included.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method for making aremote play device for an interactive entertainment electronic system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and the advantages of the remote play device for aninteractive entertainment electronic system according to the inventionwill be apparent from the following description of an embodiment givenby way of indicative and non limiting example with reference to theannexed drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an interactive entertainment electronicsystem according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows another schematic view, in greater detail of a remote playdevice according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment wherein two remote play devices, a helmet forvirtual reality and a glove, interact with each other according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures of the drawings, in FIG. 1, 1 globally andschematically shows an interactive entertainment electronic system 1comprising a main station 2 and a remote play device 4 incorporating amotion detection device 7.

The play device 4, is wireless and is supplied through a battery, andcan be for example, a wireless headset, or a play helmet.

A wireless connection is indicated with 6 between the remote play device4 and a main station or at least another wireless play device. Thiswireless connection 6 can be implemented for example through a Bluetoothconnection or a wireless local network.

The main station is based on a powerful multimedia processor, not shown,since it is a conventional (normally there are no problems of powerconsumption and of software complexity since the main station issupplied by a supply line AC).

The main station 2 is normally intended as a unit structurallyindependent from the remote and wireless play device 4; however,according to an aspect of some embodiments, the play device 4 canoperate without a main station 1 and can be considered as incorporatingthe station having on board a low consumption multimedia or soundprocessor 3.

In FIG. 2, 4 shown the interactive remote play device of the wirelesstype 4 shown comprising a sound or multimedia processor 3 and sound ormultimedia software algorithms 9 associated with the processor 3 andable to modify the multimedia effects according to return signalsreceived through the motion detection device 7.

The interactive wireless play device 4 also includes a wireless modem 8for establishing a wireless connection with the main station 2 and adigital class D amplifier 5 which provides power audio amplificationwith low power consumption and makes superfluous the use of a digitalanalog converter. This is a significant advantage for portable playdevices whose power is supplied through a battery.

The extra power consumption saved by the digital class D amplifier 5 isused for increasing the complexity of the software of the multimediaprocessor 3 incorporated in the play device adding the multimediaadaptation effects as a consequence of movement detection.

The system with the motion detection device 7 is incorporated into theplay device 4. For example, the motion detection device 7 can include atleast one linear accelerometer of the MEMS type (Micro ElectroMechanical Systems), and preferably at least two accelerometers.

Alternatively, this motion detection device 7 can include a globalPositioning System device (GPS) or a gyroscope.

As a further alternative, this motion detection device 7 can include alocalization system in real time.

For a complete description it is to be noted that audio amplifiers areconventionally classified and the different classes are designated withletters: A, B, AB, C, and D. Analog audio class D amplifiers have beenused for several years in systems, like wireless telephony, wherein awide band is not critical but the power consumption is instead critical.

New manufacturing techniques have made possible the integration of powertransistors for realizing digital class D amplifiers. This has extendedtheir potential of application to the low power and wider band systems,wireless communication systems, and sound players supplied through abattery.

The digital class D amplifier 5 is an integrated audio amplifier whichsupplies a loudspeaker digital signal processor (DSP) with a completelydigital modulation. This is particularly suitable for multimediaapplications (wherein there is no need of analog-to-digital conversion),and allows a user to listen to music or sounds with high efficiencyensuring a longer duration of the supply batteries of the audio system.

One of the greater advantages of the class D amplifiers is theirefficiency. This increased efficiency of the class D amplifiers reducesthe power consumption and as a consequence decreases the heatdissipation and increases the duration of the batteries in portablesystems.

The digital class D amplifiers integrated in a single chip haveincreased the efficiency as compared with the analog class D amplifiers.The class D amplifiers for portable devices used in some embodiments donot require any output filter, which is instead required by the normalclass D amplifiers. A digital class D amplifier 5 is advantageouslyincorporated in the wireless play device 4 supplied through a battery.

According to the combination of previously described characteristics,the electronic device 1 is able to adapt the multimedia effectsaccording to feedback signals received through the motion detectiondevice 7.

As previously discussed, an embodiment of this interactive system couldbe a wireless headset 4 incorporating position detection elements 7(accelerometers, GPS, MEMS Gyroscopes, localization systems in realtime) able to adapt the sound effects according to the position of thehead or the user's movement.

The extra power consumption required by the processor for adapting themultimedia or sound effects is saved by the digital class D amplifier 5which preserves the desired long battery duration.

A possible application is a play station 11 wherein the user reacts tothe play stimuli moving himself (or moving the head) and the sound orvideo effects of the game are adapted to this change of position ormovement.

The wireless technology, such as for example Bluetooth or wireless localnetwork, offers the possibility to deal with remote apparatuses of theinteractive system of FIG. 1 (such as play device, remote controls orwireless headsets) offering the user the freedom of moving while playingor listening to music.

Therefore the play devices 4 incorporate the motion detection device 7and the movement information and are processed locally by the multimediaprocessor 3 for adapting the sound and in parallel send them to the mainstation 2 for being processed by a main multimedia processor, forexample, for adapting the video effects or other effects in the mainstation.

As already said the main station can be replaced by another remote andwireless play device which can adapt its own sound according to themovements of the first play device for offering a full interactivitybetween two or more different players.

The software algorithms 9 processed in the multimedia processor 3consume power from the battery and this power may be the most importantresource to be preserved in wireless accessories for maintaining thefunctionality for the whole duration of the game or of the video.

According to one advantage, the presence of the high efficiency digitalclass D amplifier 5 in the wireless play device 4 supplied throughbattery addresses the problem of the method for increasing the durationof the battery.

The digital class D amplifier allows a user to listen to music or soundswith high efficiency ensuring an extended battery duration in audiosystems.

Also, the other components of the interactive entertainment system 1 areprovided with the purpose of saving energy, such as the motion detectiondevice, which may be realized with two linear accelerometers, the lowconsumption sound processor and the wireless connections, and aredesigned for consuming the bare minimum for the operation of theinteractive entertainment system 1.

All the above elements can be structurally independent devices orintegrated in a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) orin a system on a package.

Advantageously, the use of the MEMS for realizing the linearaccelerometers allows to provide a more accurate motion detection. Thediaphragm of the accelerometer can be realized with a singlesemiconductor chip using MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) with amanufacturing process with CMOS semiconductors.

The energy saving, mainly obtained with the use of the digital class Damplifier 5, is exploited for carrying out extra operations (MIPS)inside the multimedia processor 3 in the play device or in the headsetso that the sound or any other multimedia effect can be modifieddirectly inside the headset or the helmet according to the motiondetection obtained through the MEMS devices.

A possible application of the interactive entertainment system 1 isshown in FIG. 3 and is exemplified by the play helmets wherein the musicand the images of the visual screen which covers the eyes are locallymanaged in the helmet for creating virtual realities.

Virtual reality may be the most appropriate example in which audio andvideo signals can be adapted to the movement of the head or of thehands, for example, in the case in which a glove 10 can be the movingelement or remote play device instead of the helmet.

Also, a combination of moving elements, and helmet, can be used forcreating, in the user, the sensation of being in the center of an actionscene or of being the hero of a film set.

The wireless connection also has the important function of maintainingthe user's full freedom of movement sending audio signals from the mainstation 2, or from another play device 4; to the remote headset andreceiving return signals through a return channel and relevant to themovement information for the main station. The result of the processingof the return signals allows for example to adapt the video images tothe user's movements.

According to another advantage the same return signals can be sent toother users of the game, for example, equipped with similar helmets orheadsets for a complete game interaction or, alternatively, the movementinformation can be sent by the gloves to the audio/video helmet.

The embodiments disclosed herein offer several advantages, for example:

with two linear accelerometers the movements of the head can be measuredwith great accuracy and two additional functions can be added to theconventional wireless helmets;

the position, inclination and rotation of the head defines an audiodependent virtual space;

the multimedia processor can be programmed so that there is a selfturn-off when no movement is detected for long periods, thus savingfurther battery duration; and

the MEMS elements in the play device can be used for several purposes:

changing the effects (audio/video/graphical) according to the user'smovements,

turning off the remote play device when no movements are detected forlong periods, and

refusing or accepting a call when the wireless headsets are used incombination with a portable telephone so that the simple oscillation ofthe head upwards or downwards or to the right and to the leftcorresponds to a command sent to the main station.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A remote play device for an entertainment system,the remote play device comprising: an amplifier; at least one motiondetection device configured to generate motions signals; a wirelesscommunications device cooperating with said at least one motiondetection device to send the motion signals to a remote device andreceive audio signals from the remote device; and a processor configuredto vary audio characteristics of the audio signals played through saidamplifier based upon said at least one motion detection device.
 15. Theremote play device according to claim 14, wherein said processor isconfigured to turn off power to at least said amplifier based upon nomotion being detected by said at least one motion detection device for athreshold time.
 16. The remote play device according to claim 14,wherein said amplifier comprises a digital class D amplifier.
 17. Theremote play device according to claim 14, further comprising a batteryconfigured to power at least said amplifier.
 18. The remote play deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein said at least one motion detection devicecomprises a plurality of micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) linearaccelerometers.
 19. The remote play device according to claim 14,wherein said wireless communications device comprises at least one of aBluetooth and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication device.20. The remote play device according to claim 14, further comprising ahousing wearable by a head of a user and carrying said amplifier, atleast one motion detection device, and processor.
 21. The remote playdevice according to claim 14, further comprising at least one otherprocessor coupled to said processor.
 22. An application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) for a remote play device for an interactiveentertainment system, the ASIC comprising: an integrated circuit (IC)substrate, an amplifier carried by said IC substrate; at least onemotion detection device carried by said IC substrate and configured togenerate motions signals; a wireless communications device carried bysaid IC substrate and cooperating with said at least one motiondetection device to send the motion signals to a remote device andreceive audio signals from the remote device; and a processor carried bysaid IC substrate and configured to vary audio characteristics of theaudio signals played through said amplifier based upon said at least onemotion detection device.
 23. The ASIC according to claim 22, whereinsaid processor is configured to turn off power to at least saidamplifier based upon no motion being detected by said at least onemotion detection device for a threshold time.
 24. The ASIC according toclaim 22, wherein said amplifier comprises a digital class D amplifier.25. The ASIC according to claim 22, wherein said at least one motiondetection device comprises a plurality of micro-electromechanical system(MEMS) linear accelerometers.
 26. The ASIC according to claim 22,wherein said wireless communications device comprises at least one of aBluetooth and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication device.27. The ASIC according to claim 22, further comprising at least oneother processor carried by said IC substrate and coupled to saidprocessor.
 28. A method for operating a remote play device for anentertainment system, the remote play device comprising an amplifier, atleast one motion detection device, a wireless communications device, anda processor coupled to the amplifier, at least one motion detectiondevice, and wireless communications device, the method comprising: usingthe wireless communications device in cooperation with the at least onemotion detection device to send motion signals to a remote device andreceive audio signals from the remote device; and using the processor tovary audio characteristics of the audio signals played through theamplifier based upon the at least one motion detection device.
 29. Themethod according to claim 28, further comprising using the processor toturn off power to at least the amplifier based upon no motion beingdetected by the at least one motion detection device for a thresholdtime.
 30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the amplifiercomprises a digital class D amplifier.
 31. The method according to claim28, further comprising supplying power at least the amplifier via abattery.
 32. The method according to claim 28, wherein the at least onemotion detection device comprises a plurality of micro-electromechanicalsystem (MEMS) linear accelerometers.
 33. The method according to claim28, wherein the wireless communications device comprises at least one ofa Bluetooth and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communicationdevice.
 34. The method according to claim 28, wherein the remote devicefurther comprises a housing wearable by a head of a user and carryingthe amplifier, at least one motion detection device, and processor.